Thursday, August 11, 2016

Men's Home Internationals

England 8.5, Scotland 6.5 and Ireland beat

Wales 8-7 on Day 1 at Nairn

FROM SCOTTISH GOLF There was pain in the rain for hosts Scotland on day one of the
Fairstone Men’s Home Internationals at The Nairn Golf Club, as England
won a tight ‘auld enemy’ battle to join defending champions Ireland as
winners on the opening day.After the early Highland sunshine gave way to steady drizzle, it was
the visitors who still managed to shine as they edged to
an 8.5 – 6.5 victory over the Scots, the reigning European Amateur Team
champions.With the foursomes shared in the morning – thanks in part to Barry
Hume’s superb 45-foot eagle putt on the closing green – the singles went
England’s way, after key one-hole wins for Adam Chapman and Dan Brown
over Graeme Robertson and Craig Ross, while Ashton Turner also took out
home member Sandy Scott 5 and 3.

Craig Howie, Liam Johnston and Matthew Clark all replied with
emphatic triumphs for the Scots, but Marco Penge won the final game on
the course, 2 and 1 over Jamie Savage, to seal victory. It was more
Highland success for Penge, given he won last year’s Carrick Neill
Scottish Open Stroke Play at LossiemouthScottish Golf’s National Coach Ian Rae said: “It was really tight at
the end. We had a few games down, and they could then have gone either
way. Craig and Graeme both lost down the last. It was tough all day, but
there were some great performances there and some really good golf.“Credit to England, they guys played well. The four teams are really
closely matched, you have got no God-given right to win any game this
week, so we’ll see what happens tomorrow.”England could reflect on a job well done, given the difficult
conditions. “It wasn’t as tough as it could have been, and I’ve played
in a lot heavier rain this year so far,” admitted Turner, after his win
over local Scott.“It was good fun this afternoon, obviously as expected the crowds
were a little bit against me, but I tried to put that out of my mind and
it was nice to get a point for the team. We’re trying to prise the
trophy away from Irish hands so hopefully this will be the year for
England.”Ireland, meanwhile, bidding for a hat-trick of Home Internationals
titles, held firm to also edge a close match with Wales, 8 – 7. Conor
Purcell’s one-hole victory over Jack Davidson ultimately proved
decisive.Stuart Grehan and Paul McBride put early afternoon points on the
board for Ireland in the singles, after they had won the morning
foursomes 3 – 2.With Tiarnan McLarnon also securing a comfortable 6 and 4 success
over Ben Chamberlain, the Irish were in full control only for Wales to
win the last four games to give them a real scare.Thursday's matches see Scotland take on Ireland and England up
against Wales, with the destination of the Raymond Trophy still very
much up for grabs.While some GB and I players are absent this week having qualified
inside the world’s top 50 for the US Amateur Championship, the Highland
venue is still hosting a golfing feast… so,iif you live anywhere near Nairn, come along and enjoy the
action free of charge.